Public Employees Embody Community Dedication

Teachers, Firefighters, and Police Go Above and Beyond for Their Communities

Observance is a good time to remember that many public workers once served in the US military

By TEXPERS STAFF

Communities across Texas are observing Friday, Aug. 7, as National Purple Heart Day through various ceremonies honoring the men and women who were either wounded or killed while serving with the United States military.

The Purple Heart is a US military decoration awarded to those wounded or killed on a battlefield. On Aug. 7, 1782, in Newburgh, New York, General George Washington, the commander in chief of the Continental Army, created the Purple Heart. Formerly known as the “Badge for Military Merit,” the medal consisted of a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk, edged with a narrow binding of silver, with the word Merit stitched across the face in silver.

 

Many war veterans who were wounded and returned home went into public service as law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, educators, librarians, and other local or state government jobs. Military veterans have demonstrated a strong work ethic, and the ability to work in teams and in challenging situations, making them especially ideal candidates to work as first responders.TEXPERS asks its members to be sure and take the time to thank the Purple Heart recipients that may be active or retired pensioners of their funds.

 

Despite the novel coronavirus pandemic, the global virus that causes respiratory disease COVID-19, communities nationwide are finding ways to honor their Purple Heart recipients. In observance of National Purple Heart Day, states, counties, and cities paused to recognize the service and sacrifice of their local men and women who earned the medal. Veteran and military organizations also held remembrance meetings for fallen heroes and special events to thank soldiers, veterans, and Purple Heart recipients. American flags were flown at homes and businesses. And, people took the time to listen to soldiers and veterans to learn about their military experiences.

 

Here are a few of today’s observances in Texas:

 

• East Texas veterans were honored during a ceremony held by Communities Assisting Military Personnel for Veterans, or CAMP V on Friday morning. Former Purple Heart recipients were offered awards and were invited to share their experiences in battle. Face masks were required to be worn, and social distancing was practiced during the event.
• In Lubbock, a dedication ceremony included a plane flyover at the Regional Monument of Courage. Earlier in the week, Lubbock’s mayor and city council hosted a special event announcing the ceremony and issuing a proclamation asking the city’s residents to wear something purple and make an effort to fly their US flags.
• Texas Tech also hosted a ceremony to recognize those who have received the Purple Heart. According to the university, there are more than 70 Purple Heart recipients in the Lubbock area that includes several Texas Tech students. The university was the first Purple Heart University in the state, according to a local report.
• In honor of the national observance, the Texas Veterans Blog collected audio recordings of Purple Heart medal awardees who shared their experiences with the blog’s Voices of Veterans Oral History program. Their interviews are stored in the General Land Office archives, but many are available to listen to in the collection on the blog at Medium.com. The site is also asking other Purple Heart recipients to share their stories. Click the link above to find out how.

 

How You Can Take Part

Want to make your own dedication? Consider donating time and money to the Purple Heart Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, or other organizations that work with Purple Heart recipients.

 

Let us know how your local community celebrated National Purple Heart Day or tell us about a state or local government employee, first responder, or other public servant you know that received the medal.

Spotlight on Texas Public Employees

By Allen Jones/TEXPERS Communications Manager

Public employees fill an essential role in our Texas communities. Law enforcement and firefighters protect lives and property. Municipal workers repair our streets, maintain parks, assist library patrons, and ensure that our water is safe to drink. Educators help our children grow into adulthood.

 

Those are just a few examples of the critical jobs public employees do for us. Some jobs are dangerous. Others receive little thanks. Many involve backbreaking work. But most are done with a dedication to the greater good that's often unmatched in the private sector.

 

Each month, TEXPERS invites you to check out some stories of Texas public employees helping their communities:

Off-duty Rescue

A Lubbock police officer was returning home from his off-duty security job at his church on May 10 when he noticed smoke and flames were coming from the windows and vents of his neighbor’s home. A witness outside the home told officer J.R. Wood that an elderly woman was inside the house. Even though 911 had already been called, Wood ran inside the home and brought the woman out safely. According to a post describing the incident on the police department’s Facebook page, the officer also helped his neighbor contact family and helped block the road the local fire department worked to put the fire out.

Outstanding Educator

 

Morgan Castillo, a Woodgate Intermediate School teacher in the Midway Independent School District, recently received a Teaching Leadership award during H-E-B's Excellence in Education Awards. The award recognizes teachers with 10 to 20 years experience in the classroom. Castillo was the elementary category winner for North Texas. Grocery chain H-E-B announced Castillo among its 40 recipients from across the state. The finalists were announced in a virtual ceremony on May 6. Castillo is to receive a $10,000 check for her and a $10,000 grant for her school. In April, she also participated in a parade hosted by the school district. She road on top of a car dressed as Ms. Frizzle, a character on "The Magic School Bus," a popular book and TV series. In a Twitter post, she stated that she "can't imagine any other profession I'd rather be in."

 

Drainpipe Puppy

Atascocita firefighters lassoed and rescued a puppy trapped in a sewer pipe on May 1. It took the firefighters an hour to save the puppy that had fallen down an exposed pipe. According to officials, the puppy fell about 7 feet down before stopping in the piping’s curve. The department posted photos of the rescue on its Twitter page.

 

 

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